fossil fuel

[ fos-uhl fyoo-uhl ]

noun

, Energy.

1. any combustible organic material, as oil, coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of former life.

fossil fuel

noun

1. any naturally occurring carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, such as coal, petroleum, peat, and natural gas, formed by the decomposition of prehistoric organisms

fossil fuel

1. A hydrocarbon fuel, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from the accumulated remains of ancient plants and animals and used as fuel. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases generated by burning fossil fuels are considered to be one of the principal causes of global warming.

Example Sentences

Leaders recently committed to divesting the university’s holdings in fossil fuel companies.

From Washington Post

With few exceptions, economies sitting above rich reservoirs of fossil fuels develop anemic economies beset by corruption.

From Quartz

Even with renewable energy production coming on line at a breakneck pace, much of the world will still be using fossil fuels for the foreseeable future and the greenhouse gas emissions from that fossil fuel production needs to go to zero.

From TechCrunch

Major countries are promising bold action, markets are moving away from fossil fuels, businesses are paying attention to climate concerns and upcoming stimulus funding could prioritize greener investments.

From Washington Post

Our wettest days in San Diego could get 25-30 percent worse depending on how fast we warm up the planet with fossil fuel use, scientists predict.

From Voice of San Diego

But Sanders, a representative of the Northeastern vacation state of Vermont, also opposes fossil fuel development.

From The Daily Beast

By most measures, it is the dirtiest fossil fuel on the planet.

From The Daily Beast

Breaking the link between fossil fuel and our energy-fueled lifestyle requires a certain amount of self-abnegation.

From The Daily Beast

They are predicated on an assumption of fossil fuel scarcity and U.S. vulnerability to volatile global oil markets.

From The Daily Beast

Re-localizing food economies can—not necessarily, but can—help reduce our reliance on fossil fuel.

From The Daily Beast

George Ingram had made a thorough study of coal, or fossil fuel, its formation and value.

From Project Gutenberg

We can hardly estimate the value of these great stores of fossil fuel to an industrial civilization.

From Project Gutenberg